I confess I do not like the cold. Which is why I do not mind a mild winter. Is there anyone with me?
And while I do not like the cold, I do like the opportunity the cold presents. See when it is cold you have the opportunity to get out the warm, fuzzy blankets with the imitation sherpa lining. When it is cold you have the opportunity to make soup, and hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows. When it is cold you can make a fire in the fireplace, and create snuggle sandwiches with family members. No, I don't like the cold, but I absolutely love the process of getting warm.
How cold is it for you right now? Not literal coldness, but are you facing any adversity? As the new year begins I wonder if there are any facing serious anxiety? Perhaps it's being overwhelmed at work and home, fears about the future, or the simple lack of sunshine. I wonder if any are dealing with out of whack relationships? Finding marriage isn't always so easy or that the kids aren't always in great seasons. I wonder how many are dealing with loss? Loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of money. I may not know your story, but here's what I do know - the world we live in is cold.
So what would you give to be warm? What would you do to overcome the adversities facing you now, and know to your core things were going to be ok?
As a Christian this is why I love following Jesus. Absolutely, love it. I know some of you might not be Christian, and I'm so glad you're reading! But I need to tell you this isn't a sales pitch, this is just a testimony. I love following Jesus because he is my warmth in a cold world. It's what he offers you as well.
I consider the life of David. His world was cold. He always seemed to be facing people who wanted to kill him. Goliath, his father-in-law King Saul, various nations like the Philistines, even his own son Absalom wanted to kill him. And yet time after time he experienced God's protection. Time after time they confronted, and time after time God protected. So David said about God, "He is my fortress, I will not be shaken." (Psalm 62:6) David experienced God's warmth in a cold world.
Maybe the imagery for us and God isn't a fortress as David said, but a fireplace. God is a place you come to, to warm up. You have anxieties? "Cast them on me," he offers. You wonder about the future? "I know the plans I have for, plans of hope and a future," he says. Feeling lost and alone? "I know you, and promise to be with you always," he assures.
But the warmest sensation we can have is realizing his incredible love for us. To know our Heavenly Father gave up His Son, so we could become his sons and daughters. To know this Son would die in order for us to live. To know as this Son rose from death, and in so doing he points us beyond this cold world to the warm welcome of heaven.
This new year maybe cold, but I invite you to enjoy the process of getting warm. I invite you to come close to God and to experience for yourself how he can warm you up. ...Keep Reading

I recently had a great week! Our family got a little kitty. We named him Heman
after an 80's cartoon I grew up with. And Heman is awesome! He plays well, and he is
good with our kids. Not only that but he sits on my tummy and purrs. Ahh, good stuff.
Beyond the cat I was mowing the lawn, and then out of nowhere my wife offers to finish
mowing the lawn for me. Talk about awesome. And the weather was good, and I was
thinking about all the good things God has given me. I could go on....Keep Reading

By now you have heard about the shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. Dylann Roof after being welcomed into a Bible Study opened fire and killed 9 people at Emanuel AME Church. Among all the other stories to come from this one event, is the powerful story of one man's forgiveness....Keep Reading

I was reading a little about the Tour de France coming up here July 4th. Do you want to
guess how many miles long it is? 2,200 miles. That's insane! I was also reading that in order
to stay healthy the bikers must eat between 6,000 - 9,000 calories a day. I personally don't
know about all that biking, but eating that much sounds like fun....Keep Reading

In the house I grew up in the major celebration at the end of October was...the Reformation. Yep. Now I still went trick or treating, and had a lot of fun going as a football player and a cowboy. But that was the low key event compared to our celebration of the Reformation at church. Halloween and decorating my house with the Lutherâ€™s seal painted on the front lawn and blaring...Keep Reading